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Nothing marks a celebration like a cold glass of bubbly. But if you're watching your carb intake to lose weight or manage diabetes, it's a good idea to find out the champagne's nutritional information before you decide to imbibe. Dry champagne isn't very high in carbs – about the same as red and white wines. However, some sweet varieties of bubbly may have more carbs than dry champagne.

Carbohydrates in Champagne

A 5-ounce serving of one well-known brand of dry champagne has 4 grams of carbohydrates. This isn't a very high amount, especially when compared to, say, 5 ounces of orange juice, which has 16.25 grams of carbs. Champagne may be slightly higher in carbs than red and white wines, which contain around 3 to 4 grams of carbs per 5 ounces. Sweeter wines and champagnes have more carbs. The same brand of champagne produces a sweet rose champagne that has 11 grams of carbs per 5-ounce pour.

Pour Size

The problem many people run into with champagne, wine and other alcoholic drinks is that the pours are sometimes larger than the standard 5 ounces. If you are drinking champagne from a flute, this isn't as much of a problem. A standard champagne flute holds 6 ounces of liquid and, typically, the flutes are not filled all the way. However, if you are drinking champagne from a regular wine glass, you should keep in mind that you may have more than 5 ounces.

Other Problems With Alcohol

The carbs in champagne are not the only thing to worry about if you have diabetes or are trying to lose weight. Alcohol inhibits the production of glucose in the liver, which can cause a drop in blood sugar. The more alcohol that's consumed, the lower the blood sugar goes because the liver's stores of "emergency" glucose have been used up. This is dangerous for anyone, but especially for diabetics who are already using medications to lower their blood glucose.

Alcohol also affects your ability to make good decisions. This can lead to drinking more than you had planned – and consuming a lot more carbs. It can also lead you to make poor food choices and indulge in high-carb foods that are otherwise off limits.

Tips for Tippling

If you are going to imbibe, do so safely – especially if you have diabetes. Don't drink on an empty stomach; food helps mitigate the effects of alcohol on blood sugar. There's no need to eat anything greasy to "absorb" the alcohol – that's a myth. Healthy, low-carb fare is just as good.

If you are diabetic, check your blood glucose before and after drinking champagne. You should also check it regularly for the next 24 hours, because alcohol can cause hypoglycemia for up to 24 hours after it is consumed. Lastly, if you typically can't stop at one glass, be mindful of your susceptibility to "just one more" and make a conscious decision to skip the second drink.

About the Author

Jody Braverman is a professional writer and editor based in Atlanta, GA. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland, and she is a certified personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and yoga teacher. She has written for various online and print publications, including Livestrong.com, SFGate, Healthfully, and Chron.com. Visit the writer at www.JodyBraverman.com.